Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies in naturally infected broiler chickens (n = 189) from the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. The chickens were reared in a semi-intensive system by small family farmers (n = 7). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the presence of anti- Toxocara spp. IgY after serum adsorption with Ascaridia galli antigens. An overall seroprevalence of 67.7% (128/189; 95% CI = 61.1-74.4) was observed. The frequency of positive animals by farm ranged from 29.6% to 100%. The optical density and reactivity index values observed in ELISA test indicated the possible chronicity of infection of the evaluated chickens. Associations between the presence of antibodies and the area where the chickens were reared (p = 0.382) or the population density of dogs on the farm (p = 0.785) were not observed. This study shows a high prevalence of Toxocara spp. antibodies in broiler chickens reared in semi-intensive systems and provides evidence that chickens are a good indicator of environmental contamination by larva migrans agents. Further studies are necessary to assess the risk factors associated with poultry infection and the likelihood of toxocariasis transmission to humans via the ingestion of free-range chicken meat.
Highlights
Poultry, one of the most important and richest sources of protein for humans, are reared both intensively in fully automated, environmentally controlled systems and semi-intensively in backyards (FAO, 2014).Backyard production methods imply low biosafety measures and a high risk of infectious diseases (CONAN et al, 2012; IBRAHIM et al, 2016)
Our screening obtained positive results for anti-Toxocara IgY antibodies in 67.7% (128/189; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 61.1-74.4) of the free‐range chickens according to the results of the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
We screened for the presence of anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies in free-range chickens slaughtered in an abattoir in southern Brazil
Summary
One of the most important and richest sources of protein for humans, are reared both intensively in fully automated, environmentally controlled systems and semi-intensively in backyards (FAO, 2014).Backyard production methods imply low biosafety measures and a high risk of infectious diseases (CONAN et al, 2012; IBRAHIM et al, 2016). One of the most important and richest sources of protein for humans, are reared both intensively in fully automated, environmentally controlled systems and semi-intensively in backyards (FAO, 2014). Chickens have been considered indicators for environmental contamination by soil-borne parasitic diseases (CARDOSO & YAMAMURA, 2004), especially toxoplasmosis, a zoonosis that may be transmitted to humans via the ingestion of undercooked, infected chicken meat (DUBEY, 2010). Chickens are considered an indicator for soil contamination by the eggs of dog/cat Toxocara spp. Toxocariasis is primarily transmitted to humans via the ingestion of soil containing embryonated eggs; the consumption of raw or undercooked meat from chickens may represent an alternative route of transmission to humans (NAGAKURA et al, 1989; TAIRA et al, 2004; MORIMATSU et al, 2006)
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